Kunkel Law Firm - September 2018

I always recommend that you retain an experienced Social Security disability attorney if your application for benefits is denied. In my experience, the disability claims process is simply too complicated to navigate without the aid of an experienced attorney. This advice, however, is now more important than ever given the amount of time that it takes to get a hearing on your claim. The average wait times for Social Security hearings held in Southwestern Pennsylvania are now approaching an incredibly long two years. According to Social Security, the average wait time for a hearing at the Pittsburgh SSA Hearing Office is 22 months, the Seven Fields SSA Hearing Office is 20 months, and the Morgantown Hearing Office that handles claims for Pennsylvania residents living in Fayette and Greene Counties is just over 19 months. Given the two-year wait for a hearing, it only makes sense to hire an experienced Social Security disability attorney to maximize your chances of winning when your case is finally called before a Social Security judge.

THEWORLDTRADE CENTER How theTowers Came to Be

On Sept.11, 2001, at 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 struck the north tower of theWorld Trade Center traveling at 470 mph, ripping a hole in the building from floors 93 to 99. At 9:03 a.m., a second plane smashed into the south tower traveling at 590 mph, cutting a gaping hole from floors 75 to 85. Within an hour, the south tower collapsed due to the sheer weight of the building combined with the damage dealt by the impact and the burning jet fuel. At 10:28 a.m., the north tower followed. The rubble and debris from the collapsed towers caused fires and further damage to the surrounding buildings and areas. Within hours, nearly 3,000 people had lost their lives. The attack left the world in a state of terror and grief, and the United States was changed forever. Today, the twin towers’ last day is remembered as the worst terrorist attack in history, but few people know how the buildings became part of New York City’s skyline in the first place. A world trade center pavilion was first hosted during the NewYorkWorld’s Fair in 1939 — the exhibit was dedicated to the slogan“world peace through trade.”The idea for theWorld Trade Center was then abandoned after seven years, until David Rockefeller revived the concept to reinvigorate lower Manhattan. Rockefeller took the reins and continued the project, finding premises near the Fulton Fish Market on the East River, and construction on the $250 million complex began. He also turned to the Port of NewYork Authority for financial support to ensure theWorld Trade Center’s completion, and the first real plans for theWorld Trade Center were put into action. It was then that the Port Authority decided the towers should break the record for the tallest building in the world, beating the 1,250-foot Empire State building. To do this, architect Minoru Yamasaki designed the towers to hold 110 stories each, but they would not have the traditional